Pak`s CJ takes suo motu notice of illegal CNG licences

Islamabad: Pakistan`s Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has taken suo motu notice of reports of alleged wrongdoing in issuing CNG station licences during the tenure of former premiers Yousuf Raza Gilani and Raja Pervez Ashraf.

Chaudhry acted after the Supreme Court`s Registrar sent him a note about media reports on the issue.

The matter will be heard tomorrow by a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice.
Registrar Faqir Hussain referred to media reports about the alleged tampering of records of some projects approved during the tenure of Gilani and Ashraf as well as former Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain.

The Registrar’s note cited allegations that efforts were being made by bureaucrats to conceal "dubious" proposals sent to Gilani, who allegedly granted illegal licences for 450 CNG stations in collusion with former Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority chief Tauqir Sadiq, the brother-in-law of senior Pakistan People`s Party leader Jahangir Badar.

The note contended that the licences were issued despite a ban imposed by the government.

"Corruption of billions of rupees is involved in the matter," the note claimed.

The note referred to another scam whereby Ashraf had allegedly approved 200 illegal CNG station licences despite the ban.

However, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority did not implement Asharf`s decision and constituted a committee to look into the matter.

The note contended that former Petroleum Minister Asim Hussain and former Finance Minister Saleem Mandviwala had got a one-time approval from the cabinet for importing 59 containers of CNG cylinders in contravention of laws.

Gilani was disqualified from parliament after he was convicted of contempt of court last year. He is not eligible to contest the May 11 general election.

Ashraf is facing several cases and he too would be ineligible for the polls if he is convicted.